Police officer charged with DWI

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Steven M. Clayton (Image courtesy Johnston County Sheriff's Office)

August 14, 2012 3:37:01 PM PDT

APEX, N.C. --

An Apex police officer finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said 31-year-old Steven M. Clayton was off-duty when he was stopped on Highway 42 near Interstate 40 around 2 a.m. Sunday by Johnston County deputies for allegedly failing to maintain lane control.

A Highway Patrol Trooper was called and Clayton refused a breathalyzer test.

Clayon was charged with DWI and failure to maintain lane control.

He was freed on a $1,000 bond.

In a statement, the Apex Police Department said Clayton has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.